Rail-joint.



L1. KNIGHT &J. M. SMITH.

RAIL JOINT.

APPUCATION FILEDMAR. 30. 1915.

1 157.,554, Patented Oct. 19,1915.

x i at PATENT ISAAC J. KNIGHT AND JAMES M. SMITH, 0F PLAINVIEW, ARKANSAS.

RAIL-JOINT.

Application filed March 30, 1915.

1'0 all "whom it may conce n:

Be it known that we, Isaac J. KNIGHT and JAMEs M. SMITH, citizens of the United States, residing at Plainview, in the county of Yell and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices for joining the ends of rails and has for its primary object to provide simple, easily operable and effective means of the above mentioned charactor that will serve to connect the ends of rails in a reliable manner and hold them against relative movement without necessitating the employment of bolts, spikes or other fastening elements.

Another object of importance is to provide locking plates of novel construction so constructed that they may be easily moved into operative or locking position and when once in such position it will not become accidentally deranged, it being necessary to use a tool to move the plates out of locking position.

Another object is to improve rail joint devices of the character described so as to render them more practical, reliable and ellicient in operation and durable without increasing the cost of manufacture.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

With reference to the drawings, wherein we have illustrated the preferred embodiment of our invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved device, Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken of the rail joint, and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detail perspective view showing the construction of one of the rails and the locking plate thereon.

Specification of Letters Patent.

edge with the top of 'mately the centralpart Patented Get. 19, 1915.

Serial No. 18,043.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the numerals l and 2 designate the rails of a joint which are cut away from the upper and lower sides thereof respectively to provide extensions 3 and shoulders l. 'lhe extensions 3 overlap so that the extension 8 on the rail 2 is flush at its upper the rail 1, and the extension 3 on the rail 1 is flush at its bottom edge with the bottom face of the rail 2. The extensions 3 are placed in overlapped position in such manner that a horizontal opening 5 is formed therebetween, said extensions being recessed upon their inner faces so as to be spaced from one another to provide the opening Each of the shoulders 4 is recessed horizontally and inwardly as at (3, the recesses alining with the opening 5. Pivoted upon the opposed faces of the extensions 3 at points intermediate the ends of said extensions are locking plates 7 formed of spring metal and which are elongated. A pivot pin 8 is inserted through approxiof each plate and secures the plate to its extension 3. The inner or locking end of each plate is rounded as at 9 and adjacent to the other end of each plate on one side thereof a recess or cut out portion 10 is provided. The end of the plate adjacent to the recess or cut out portion 10 is beveled as at 11. The plate 7 011 one rail is designed so that it may be moved into locking cooperation with the recess 6 on the other rail as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 in the drawings. The rounded end 9 being extended within the recess 6. Each of the plates has adjacent to its larger curved end a transverse rib or projection 12 formed by striking the plate upwardly so that when the plates are forced into the recesses 6 to lock the rails they are expanded and owing to their spring action effect a clamping action within the recesses and are not liable to become deranged.

When the plates 7 are moved into longitudinal alinement with the rails and in l0cl ing engagement with the recesses 6, the smaller outer ends thereof engage one another and lie within the recesses or cut out portions 10 so that the sides of the plates may be disposed flush or nearly so with the sides of the rails, as shown in Fig. 2. The beveled ends 11 are spaced from the larger portions of the plates when they are in operative position as shown in Fig. 2, so that a suitable tool, not -shown, may be inserted between the shoulder 13 formed by cutting away the plates as at 10 and the beveled end to effect moving of the plates out of locking position. When one of the plates 7 is rotated to withdraw the curved end 9 out of locked position the curved end is brought into engagement with the beveled end of the other plate and said beveled end is forced outwardly into position whereby it may be grasped to effect unlocking of said. other plate.

Each of the shoulders 4 is formed with a vertical dove-tail recess 14 and carried on the outer ends of the extensions 3 are dovetail projections 15. The projections 15 extend into the recesses 1st and lockthe rails againstlongitudinal movement relative to one another,

When the rails are to be secured, the plates 7 are positioned at right angles to the extensions 3 and the dove-tail projections 15 fitted within the recesses 14: therefor, so that the extensions 3 overlap and the space or opening 5 is formed therebetween. The plates 7 are then moved so that their rounded or curved inner ends 9 are forced into the recesses 6 and the rails are thus locked against being lifted one from the other or vertical adjustment. The ribs 12 prevent the plates from working loose and it will thus be seen that there is no project ing portion of the device relative to the sides of the rails which may be accidentally engaged to effect unlocking of the device.

It will be readily seen that with our improved device the ends of rails may be secuied to one another in a reliable and expeditious manner and that the use of bolts or other fastening elements is obviated.

In practice, we have found that the form of our invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most efficient and'practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of our device will necessarily vary, we desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangementof parts may be resorted to, when required, Without sacrific- Copies of this patent may be obtained for ing any of the advantages of our invention. as set forth.

What is claimed is 2- 1. In a rail joint, the combination with the rails of a joint, said rails being overlapped and interlocked and formed with alining horizontal recesses of locking plates pivoted to the inner faces of the overlapped portions of the rails and to be moved to engage within the recesses.

2. In a rail joint, the combination with the rails of a joint, said rails being cut away from the upper and lower sides thereof to provide extensions, said extensions overlapping, shoulders being formed by cutting away said rails, said shoulders having dovetail recesses arranged vertically therein, dove-tail projections carried on the ends of the extensions and arranged to fit within the recesses and a locking plate pivoted upon the inner face of each of said extensions, the locking plate of one rail being arra god to extend into locking engagement with the other rail, each of said rails being formed with a recess in the shoulder thereof.

In a rail joint, the combination with the rails of a joint, said rails being cut away from the upper and lower sides thereof to provide extensions, said extensions overlapping, shoulders being formed by cutting away said rails, said shoulders having dovetail recesses arranged vertically therein, dove-tail projections carried on the ends of the extensions and arranged to it within the recesses. a locking plate pivoted upon the inner face of each of said extensions, the l cking plate of one rail being arranged to extend into locking engagement with. the other rail, each of said rails being formed with a recess in the shoulder thereof, said locking plates being formed with spring metal and. ha \ing an upwardly struck transverse rib thereon to engage within the recess.

In testimony whereof we ailix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC J. KNIGHT.

his JAMES M. X SMITH.

mark

Vitnesses l-lnNnY ALBRIGHT, Bun lVILSoN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents- Washington, D. 0. 

